Related Experiment Videos
Evidence for an active inflammatory process in the hibernating human myocardium
Nikolaos G Frangogiannis1, Sarah Shimoni, Su Min Chang
1Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, the Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. ngf@bcm.tmc.edu
The American Journal of Pathology
|April 12, 2002
Summary
Myocardial hibernation involves impaired heart function due to coronary artery disease. Active inflammation and leukocyte recruitment in hibernating heart segments predict functional recovery after revascularization.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Immunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Myocardial hibernation is a condition of reduced left ventricular function in coronary artery disease patients, potentially reversible by revascularization.
- The underlying mechanisms, particularly local inflammatory responses, in hibernating myocardium are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and role of local inflammatory reactions in myocardial hibernation.
- To determine if inflammatory markers correlate with functional recovery after coronary revascularization.
Main Methods:
- Transmural myocardial biopsies were obtained from dysfunctional segments in patients undergoing bypass surgery.
- Biopsies were analyzed for fibrosis, mast cells, macrophages, and newly recruited myeloid cells (Mac387).
- Functional recovery was assessed by echocardiography 3 months post-revascularization.
Main Results:
- Dysfunctional myocardial segments exhibited increased fibrosis and macrophage density compared to normal segments.
- Segments that recovered function post-revascularization showed significantly higher numbers of Mac387-positive leukocytes.
- Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 expression was higher in segments with functional recovery.
Conclusions:
- Myocardial hibernation is associated with an inflammatory response involving active leukocyte recruitment.
- An active inflammatory reaction in dysfunctional myocardial segments indicates a greater potential for recovery after revascularization.
- Revascularization may facilitate the resolution of inflammation, mitigating further myocardial injury.